Information presenting method, server, and information presenting system

ABSTRACT

In an information presenting method, visible light including unique information, which is unique to a passenger carrier and specific to a location of the carrier, is emitted. The light is received in the passenger space and the unique information is obtained. One or more stop points at which the carrier is currently stopped or is to subsequently stop are obtained. The one or more stop points are derived from the unique information. An alighting point at which a user is to alight from the carrier is obtained. Whether the alighting point is included in the one or more stop points is determined. Alighting information notifying the user to alight from the bus is presented to the user via a terminal, when the alighting point is determined to be included in the one or more stop points.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese PatentApplication Number 2015-178963 filed on Sep. 10, 2015, the entirecontent of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to an information presenting method, aserver, and an information presenting system.

2. Description of the Related Art

A passenger who boards public transportation such as a railroad and abus (hereinafter, also referred to as a passenger carrier) wishes toknow a current location of the public transportation while the passengeris on the public transportation, and make sure that the passengeralights from the public transportation at a point where the passengerplans to get off.

Conventionally, a technique of providing detailed public transportationguide information in accordance with a travel plan of a passenger hasbeen disclosed (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application PublicationNo. 2009-85784, for example).

SUMMARY

However, for example, if the passenger cannot appropriately grasp acurrent location of the passenger carrier or if the passenger cannotappropriately determine, due to, for instance, a language problem,whether the place is a point at which the passenger needs to alight fromthe passenger carrier, the passenger may not alight from the passengercarrier appropriately.

In view of this, the present disclosure provides an informationpresenting method for appropriately presenting alighting information toa passenger.

In order to appropriately present such information, an informationpresenting method according to an aspect of the present disclosure is aninformation presenting method for presenting information to a passengeron a passenger carrier which stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, the information presenting methodincluding: (a) emitting, by a lighting apparatus provided in thepassenger carrier, light to a passenger space of the passenger carrier,the light including, in form of a visible light communication signal,unique information which is unique to the passenger carrier and specificto a location of the passenger carrier; (b) receiving in the passengerspace, by a terminal carried by the passenger, the light emitted in (a)and obtaining the unique information included in the received light; (c)obtaining, among the predetermined boarding-and-alighting points, one ormore stop points at which the passenger carrier is currently stopped oris to subsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived fromthe obtained unique information; (d) receiving an alighting point atwhich the passenger is to alight from the passenger carrier; (e)determining whether the alighting point is included in the one or morestop points; and (O presenting, to the passenger via the terminal,alighting information notifying the passenger to alight from thepassenger carrier, when the alighting point is determined to be includedin the one or more stop points in (e).

In order to appropriately present such information, a server accordingto an aspect of the present disclosure includes: a memory storing one ormore pieces of predetermined information associated with one or more ofpredetermined boarding-and-alighting points at which a passenger carrierstops; a unique information receiver which receives unique informationwhich is unique to the passenger carrier and specific to a location ofthe passenger carrier, and an alighting point at which a passenger is toalight from the passenger carrier; a determiner which determines whetherthe unique information received by the unique information receiver isauthentic; and a predetermined transmitter which transmits, among theone or more pieces of predetermined information, predeterminedinformation associated with the alighting point received by the uniqueinformation receiver, when the determiner determines the uniqueinformation to be authentic.

In order to appropriately present such information, an informationpresenting system according to an aspect of the present disclosure is aninformation presenting system which presents information to a passengeron a passenger carrier which stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, the information presenting systemincluding: a lighting apparatus provided in the passenger carrier; and aterminal carried by the passenger, wherein the lighting apparatusincludes a light emitter which emits light to a passenger space of thepassenger carrier, the light including, in form of a visible lightcommunication signal, unique information which is unique to thepassenger carrier and specific to a location of the passenger carrier,and the terminal includes: a receiver which receives, in the passengerspace, the light emitted by the light emitter, and obtains the uniqueinformation included in the received light; an obtainer which obtains,among the predetermined boarding-and-alighting points, one or more stoppoints at which the passenger carrier is currently stopped or is tosubsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived from theobtained unique information; a user interface which receives input of analighting point at which the passenger is to alight from the passengercarrier; a determiner which determines whether the passenger carrier isnear the alighting point, by comparing the one or more stop points andthe alighting point; and a presenter which presents, to the passenger,alighting information indicating that the passenger carrier is near thealighting point, when the determiner determines the passenger carrier tobe near the alighting point.

The information presenting method according to the present disclosureappropriately presents alighting information to a passenger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The figures depict one or more implementations in accordance with thepresent teaching, by way of examples only, not by way of limitations. Inthe figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similarelements.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of alighting apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of aterminal according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of thelighting apparatus according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of theterminal according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a route andboarding-and-alighting points of a bus in Embodiment 1;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating processing by the lighting apparatusaccording to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating processing by the terminal accordingto Embodiment 1;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram of boarding-and-alighting points and astop point according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram of an alighting point according toEmbodiment 1;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of informationpresented to a user according to Embodiment 1;

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of aterminal according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration of aserver according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating processing by the terminalaccording to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating processing by the server accordingto Embodiment 2;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example ofpresentation of advertisement information which is a first example ofspecial offer information according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram illustrating usage of authenticationinformation, which is a second example of the special offer informationin Embodiment 2;

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating processing performed by theterminal using authentication information according to Embodiment 2;

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating processing performed by a gate andan authentication server using authentication information according toEmbodiment 2;

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 22A is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of asynchronizer according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 22B is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of awireless control microcomputer of the synchronizer according toEmbodiment 3;

FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating information described ina radio beacon according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of alighting apparatus according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed hardwareconfiguration of the lighting apparatus according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating processing of transmitting a radiobeacon by the synchronizer and processing of transmitting a visiblelight communication signal by the lighting apparatus according toEmbodiment 3;

FIG. 27 is a timing diagram illustrating timings when the lightingapparatus transmits information according to Embodiment 3;

FIG. 28 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Variation 1 of Embodiment 3;

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Variation 2 of Embodiment 3; and

FIG. 30 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an information presentingsystem according to Variation 3 of Embodiment 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The following describes lighting apparatuses according to embodiments ofthe present disclosure, with reference to the drawings. The embodimentsdescribed below each show a specific example. The numerical values,shapes, materials, elements, the arrangement and connection of theelements, steps, the order of processing the steps, and others describedin the following embodiments are mere examples, and therefore are notintended to limit the present disclosure. Therefore, among the elementsin the following embodiments, elements not recited in any of theindependent claims defining the most generic concept of the presentdisclosure are described as arbitrary elements. Note that the drawingsare schematic diagrams, and do not necessarily provide strictly accurateillustration.

Embodiment 1

The present embodiment describes an information presenting system and aninformation presenting method which appropriately present alightinginformation to a passenger.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 1 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, information presenting system 1 includeslighting apparatus L1 provided in passenger space 11 of bus 10, andterminal 20.

Bus 10 is an example of public transportation which unspecified userscan use, or more specifically, an example of public transportation. Bus10 travels along a predetermined route, and stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points (also referred to as bus stops) on theabove predetermined route so that a user can board or alight from bus10.

Bus 10 is an example of a passenger carrier. A train and a ship may beother examples of a passenger carrier. In the following, a descriptionis given using bus 10 as an example of a passenger carrier, yet the samedescription also applies to other passenger carriers such as a train anda ship. A predetermined boarding-and-alighting point is a station if thepassenger carrier is a train, and is a harbor if the passenger carrieris a ship.

Passenger space 11 is the space inside bus 10 where user U1 who is apassenger stays while on the bus. Lighting apparatus L1 is provided inpassenger space 11, and emits light which includes a signal for visiblelight communication (hereinafter, also referred to as a visible lightcommunication signal). For example, a seat for user U1 to sit down (notillustrated) may also be provided in passenger space 11.

Lighting apparatus L1 is a lighting apparatus for visible lightcommunication provided in bus 10. Lighting apparatus L1 emits lightwhich includes a visible light communication signal to passenger space11.

User U1 is a person who boards bus 10 and is in passenger space 11. UserU1 carries terminal 20, and obtains and generates information usingterminal 20.

Terminal 20 is an information processing terminal used by user U1. Notethat terminal 20 may be an information processing terminal used by userU1, and user U1 may have or may not have the ownership of terminal 20,which does not matter.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration oflighting apparatus L1 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, lighting apparatus L1 includes centralprocessing unit (CPU) 101, storage 102, input interface (IF) 103 andnetwork interface (NIF) 104, modulation circuit 105, and light source106.

CPU 101 is a processor which executes a program stored in storage 102.When CPU 101 executes the program, functions of the functional blocks(described alter) included in lighting apparatus L1 are achieved.

Storage 102 is a nonvolatile storage area for storing programs, forinstance.

Input IF 103 is an interface device which receives operation by user U1,and specifically is achieved by a button, for instance.

NIF 104 is an interface device which transmits and receives informationto/from another apparatus via a network. The network is a mobile phoneline or a wireless local area network (LAN) compatible with, forexample, standards such as IEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, andIEEE802.11n. An interface device according to the network type is usedas NIF 104.

Modulation circuit 105 modulates the amplitude of light emitted by lightsource 106, by modulating the value of a current to be supplied to lightsource 106. Modulation circuit 105 modulates the value of a current tobe supplied to light source 106 in accordance with a visible lightcommunication signal, and thereafter light source 106 emits light whichincludes the visible light communication signal.

Light source 106 emits light. Light source 106 outputs light having anamplitude according to the value of the supplied current, thusilluminating an area surrounding lighting apparatus L1. Furthermore, ifthe value of the supplied current is modulated in accordance with avisible light communication signal, light source 106 transmits a visiblelight communication signal to the surrounding area through the aboveillumination.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration ofterminal 20 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, terminal 20 includes CPU 201, storage 202,input IF 203, NIF 204, display 205, light receiver 206, speaker 207,vibration motor 208, and near field communication (NFC, near field radiocommunication) port 209.

CPU 201 is a processor which executes a program stored in storage 202.When CPU 201 executes the program, functions of the functional blocks(later described) included in terminal 20 are achieved.

Storage 202 is a nonvolatile storage area for storing programs, forinstance.

Input IF 203 is an interface device which receives operation by user U1,and specifically is achieved by a button, a touch panel, or the like.

NIF 204 is an interface device which transmits and receives informationto/from another apparatus via a network. NIF 204 is achieved by a mobilephone line or a wireless LAN compatible with standards such asIEEE802.11a, IEEE802.11b, IEEE802.11g, and IEEE802.11n, for example.

Display 205 displays an image. Display 205 is achieved by a liquidcrystal display (which may be a display portion of a touch panel liquidcrystal display), for example.

Light receiver 206 receives light from the surroundings and outputs anintensity of received light which is a value according to the intensityof received light. Note that light receiver 206 is achieved by aphotodiode or camera (imaging device), for instance.

Speaker 207 is an audio output device which outputs sound.

Vibration motor 208 is a vibration generator which generates vibration.

NFC port 209 is a communication-interface device which communicates withother apparatuses by NFC.

The following describes functions of lighting apparatus L1 and terminalhaving the above configurations.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration oflighting apparatus L1 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, lighting apparatus L1 includes locationinformation obtainer 121, unique information generator 122, uniqueinformation transmitter 123, and memory 124.

Location information obtainer 121 obtains location informationindicating the current position of bus 10 (hereinafter, also simplyreferred to as location information). Location information obtainer 121obtains location information of bus 10 by, for example, globalpositioning system (GPS), and provides unique information generator 122with the obtained location information. Location information obtainer121 is achieved by CPU 101 and storage 102, for instance.

Unique information generator 122 generates unique information which isunique to bus 10 traveling along a route and specific to the position ofbus 10. Specifically, unique information generator 122 obtains locationinformation from location information obtainer 121, and generates uniqueinformation using the obtained location information andboarding-and-alighting point list 125 stored in memory 124. Uniqueinformation generator 122 is achieved by CPU 101 and storage 102, forinstance.

Unique information is information unique to bus 10 and specific to thelocation of bus 10, and is generated by linking such information, forexample.

For example, an identifier which identifies bus 10 from other buses canbe used as information unique to bus 10. Note that information unique tolighting apparatus L1 can be used as information unique to bus 10. Asinformation unique to lighting apparatus L1, an identifier whichidentifies one lighting apparatus L1 from other lighting apparatuses canbe used.

As information specific to location information, information fordetermining whether bus 10 is at any of boarding-and-alighting points orat a point between a boarding-and-alighting point and the nextboarding-and-alighting point (hereinafter, also referred to as a midwaypoint) can be used. In order to generate location specific information,unique information generator 122 obtains boarding-and-alighting pointlist 125 stored in memory 124, and determines whether locationinformation obtained from location information obtainer 121 indicates aboarding-and-alighting point included in boarding-and-alighting pointlist 125 or a midway point. Note that if bus 10 is at a point, this alsoimplies that bus 10 is near the point in addition to the case where bus10 is strictly at the point. Here, “near” may be a range where a personcan recognized that bus 10 is at the point, and the range may be set to,for example, about 5 m to 10 m.

Unique information transmitter 123 transmits unique informationgenerated by unique information generator 122 to terminal 20 by visiblelight communication. Unique information transmitter 123 is achieved byCPU 101, storage 102, modulation circuit 105, and light source 106, forinstance. Unique information transmitter 123 corresponds to a lightemitter.

Memory 124 is a storage device which stores boarding-and-alighting pointlist 125. Boarding-and-alighting point list 125 is a list ofboarding-and-alighting points which are points at which bus 10 may stop.Memory 124 is achieved by storage 102.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration ofterminal 20 according to the present embodiment. As illustrated in FIG.5, terminal 20 includes user interface 211, unique information receiver212, stop point obtainer 213, determiner 214, and presenter 215.

User interface 211 receives input of an alighting point which is a pointat which user U1 is to alight from bus 10. User interface 211 presents,to user U1, a list of boarding-and-alighting points of bus 10 on display205, for example, and receives, via input IF 203, input of a pointselected as a point at which user U1 is to alight from bus 10 from amongthe presented boarding-and-alighting points. User interface 211 isachieved by CPU 201, storage 202, and input IF 203, for instance.

Unique information receiver 212 receives a visible light communicationsignal from lighting apparatus L1. Specifically, unique informationreceiver 212 receives light which includes unique information in theform of a visible light communication signal and is emitted by lightingapparatus L1, and obtains the unique information included in thereceived light in the form of a visible light communication signal. Notethat unique information receiver 212 is achieved by CPU 201, storage202, and light receiver 206, for instance. Unique information receiver212 corresponds to a receiver.

Stop point obtainer 213 obtains, among boarding-and-alighting points,one or more stop points at which bus 10 is currently stopped or is tosubsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived from theunique information obtained by unique information receiver 212. Stoppoint obtainer 213 stores the list of boarding-and-alighting points ofbus 10, for example, and based on unique information obtained by uniqueinformation receiver 212, obtains one or more stop points at which bus10 is currently stopped or is to subsequently stop. Stop point obtainer213 is achieved by CPU 201 and storage 202, for instance. Stop pointobtainer 213 corresponds to an obtainer.

Note that terminal 20 may obtain the one or more stop points using aserver device. Specifically, a server device connected to terminal 20 soas to communicate with terminal 20 may store the above list, stop pointobtainer 213 may transmit unique information to the server device, theserver device may calculate one or more stop points at which bus 10 iscurrently stopped or is to subsequently stop, and terminal 20 mayreceive the stop point(s) calculated by the server device.

Determiner 214 determines whether an alighting point is included in theone or more stop points. Specifically, if there is one stop point,determiner 214 determines the alighting point to be included in the stoppoint if the one stop point matches the alighting point. If there areplural stop points, determiner 214 may determine the alighting point tobe included in the stop points if a stop point (next stop point) atwhich bus 10 is to stop next among the stop points matches the alightingpoint. Determiner 214 is achieved by CPU 201 and storage 202, forinstance.

If determiner 214 determines an alighting point to be included in one ormore stop points, presenter 215 presents, to user U1, alightinginformation notifying user U1 to alight from bus 10. Presenter 215presents, to user U1, alighting information by: generating an imageshowing alighting information and displaying the image on display 205;generating audio data indicating alighting information and outputtingthe audio data from speaker 207; and generating vibration dataindicating alighting information and generating vibration with vibrationmotor 208, for instance. Presenter 215 is achieved by CPU 201, storage202, display 205, speaker 207, and vibration motor 208, for instance.

The following describes in detail operation of lighting apparatus L1 andterminal 20 having the above configurations. First, a description of,for instance, preconditions for operation of lighting apparatus L1 andterminal 20, including a route of bus 10, is given.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating route 12 andboarding-and-alighting points of bus 10 according to the presentembodiment.

Route 12 illustrated in FIG. 6 is a route along which bus 10 travels.Route 12 has points A, B, C, D, E, and F, as the boarding-and-alightingpoints (bus stops) at which users can board and alight from bus 10. Bus10 travels from point A to point F along route 12, and stops at thepoints one by one so that users board and alight from bus 10.

In the following, it is assumed that user U1 is on bus 10 and is toalight from bus 10 at point E, and bus 10 is between points B and C.Furthermore, the case where stop point obtainer 213 obtains one stoppoint (i.e., a stop point at which bus 10 is currently stopped or is tostop next) is described as an example.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating processing by lighting apparatus L1according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustratingprocessing by terminal 20 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 9 isan explanatory diagram of boarding-and-alighting points and a stop pointaccording to the present embodiment. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagramof an alighting point according to the present embodiment. Processing bylighting apparatus L1 and terminal 20 is now described with reference tothe drawings.

First, processing by lighting apparatus L1 is described.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, in step S101, unique information generator 122obtains a bus stop list which is the boarding-and-alighting point list.The bus stop list indicates boarding-and-alighting points on a route,and is shown by boarding-and-alighting points 901 in FIG. 9. Here,unique information generator 122 may obtain a bus stop list from theoutside of bus 10 via a communication line and NIF 104, or may obtain abus stop list obtained in advance and stored in memory 124.

In step S102, location information obtainer 121 obtains locationinformation indicating the current location of bus 10. Specifically,location information obtainer 121 obtains location information of apoint on the route between points A and B as location information of bus10.

In step S103, unique information generator 122 generates uniqueinformation which is unique to bus 10 and specific to the location ofbus 10.

In step S104, unique information transmitter 123 emits light whichincludes, in the form of a visible light communication signal, theunique information generated by unique information generator 122 in stepS103 (light transmission step). Note that unique information transmitter123 may emit such light only when bus 10 is at a midway point. Becausewhen bus 10 is stopped at a boarding-and-alighting point, it is notnecessary to present, to user U1, a point at which user U1 is to alightfrom bus 10. Also, because even if the above light is emitted to aterminal of a user who boards, but immediately alights from bus 10 andthen the terminal receives unique information while bus 10 is stopped ata bus stop, alighting information cannot be appropriately presented viathe terminal.

The following describes processing by terminal 20.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, in step S201, user interface 211 receivesinput of a bus stop at which user U1 is to alight from bus 10 as analighting point (input receiving step). The alighting point is point Eas shown by alighting point 1001 in FIG. 10.

In step S202, unique information receiver 212 receives light whichincludes unique information in the form of a visible light communicationsignal from lighting apparatus L1, and obtains the unique informationfrom the received light (receiving step).

In step S203, stop point obtainer 213 obtains a bus stop at which bus 10is currently stopped or is to stop next, based on the unique informationobtained in step S202 (obtaining step). The bus stop at which bus 10stops next is point C as shown by stop point 902 in FIG. 9.

In step S204, determiner 214 determines whether the alighting point isincluded in the stop point. Specifically, for example, determiner 214determines whether the next bus stop matches the bus stop at which userU1 is to alight from bus 10.

If determiner 214 determines in step S204 the bus stop at which bus 10is to stop next to match the bus stop at which user U1 is to alight frombus 10 (YES in step S204), the processing proceeds to step S205, whereasif determiner 214 determines the bus stops not to match (NO in stepS204), the processing returns to step S202.

Specifically, for example, when bus 10 is between points B and C asillustrated in FIG. 6, point C which is the bus stop at which bus 10stops next does not match point E which is the alighting point, and thusthe processing returns to step S202. For example, when bus 10 is betweenpoints D and E (not illustrated), point E which is a bus stop at whichbus 10 is to stop next matches point E which is the alighting point, andthus the processing proceeds to step S205.

In step S205, presenter 215 presents, to user U1, alighting information1101 notifying user U1 to alight from bus 10. For example, asillustrated in FIG. 11, presenter 215 presents, to user U1, alightinginformation 1101 by displaying an image showing alighting information1101 on display 205.

Information presenting system 1 appropriately presents an alightingpoint to user U1 through a series of the above processes. Sinceinformation presenting system 1 causes lighting apparatus L1 to transmitunique information to terminal 20 by visible light communication,information presenting system 1 has an advantage of preventing theunique information from being leaked out of bus 10 while allowingterminal 20 to receive the unique information.

As described above, the information presenting method according to thepresent embodiment is an information presenting method for presentinginformation to user U1 on bus 10 which stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, the information presenting methodincluding: (a) emitting, by lighting apparatus L1 provided in bus 10,light to passenger space 11 of bus 10, the light including, in form of avisible light communication signal, unique information which is uniqueto bus 10 and specific to a location of bus 10; (b) receiving inpassenger space 11, by terminal 20 carried by user U1, the light emittedin (a) to obtain the unique information included in the received light;(c) obtaining, among the predetermined boarding-and-alighting points,one or more stop points at which bus 10 is currently stopped or is tosubsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived from theobtained unique information; (d) receiving an alighting point at whichuser U1 is to alight from bus 10; (e) determining whether the alightingpoint is included in the one or more stop points; and (f) presenting, touser U1 via terminal 20, alighting information notifying user U1 toalight from bus 10, when the alighting point is determined to beincluded in the one or more stop points in (e).

According to this, information presenting system 1 appropriatelypresents to user U1 alighting information via terminal 20 based onunique information which is unique to bus 10 and specific to thelocation of bus 10. User U1 can alight from bus 10, based on the abovepresentation. In particular, unique information is transmitted andreceived in bus 10 through visible light communication. Thus, uniqueinformation is received by terminal 20 in bus 10, and can also beprevented from being leaked out of bus 10. Accordingly, informationpresenting system 1 can appropriately present alighting information to apassenger.

In (c), among the one or more stop points, a next stop point at whichbus 10 is currently stopped or is to stop next may be obtained, and in(e), whether the next stop point and the alighting point match may bedetermined.

According to this, information presenting system 1 presents alightinginformation to user U1 when a boarding-and-alighting point at which bus10 is currently stopped or is to stop next is a bus stop at which userU1 is to alight from bus 10. Based on the above presentation, user U1can alight from bus 10 more appropriately.

In (a), the light may be emitted only when bus 10 is on a route of bus10 at a point other than the predetermined boarding-and-alightingpoints.

According to this, while bus 10 is stopped at a stop point, informationpresenting system 1 does not transmit unique information. Accordingly,information presenting system 1 can prevent the terminal of the userfrom receiving unique information if the user boards bus 10 stopped atthe stop point, but immediately alights from bus 10.

Embodiment 2

The present embodiment describes a technique of giving a passenger aspecial offer with an information presenting system and an informationpresenting method which appropriately present alighting information tothe passenger. Note that the same reference numeral may be given to thesame element as that in Embodiment 1, and thus a detailed descriptionthereof may be omitted.

FIG. 12 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 2 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, information presenting system 2 includeslighting apparatus L1 provided in passenger space 11 of bus 10, terminal20A, and server 30. Terminal 20A and server 30 are connected via network40 so as to communicate with each other.

Terminal 20A has a similar function to that of terminal 20 according toEmbodiment 1, and furthermore transmits unique information received fromlighting apparatus L1 to server 30 and presents, to user U1, specialoffer information (also referred to as predetermined information)received from server 30.

Server 30 is a server device which transmits special offer informationto terminal 20A. Server 30 receives unique information from terminal20A, and transmits special offer information to terminal 20A if thereceived unique information is authentic.

Network 40 connects terminal 20A and server 30 so that terminal 20A andserver 30 can communicate with each other, and includes, for instance, aLAN, a mobile phone line network, and the Internet.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration ofterminal 20A according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 13, terminal 20A includes user interface 211,unique information receiver 212, stop point obtainer 213, determiner214, presenter 215A, unique information transmitter 221, and specialoffer receiver 222. Note that among the functional blocks of terminal20A, the same functional block as that of terminal 20 according toEmbodiment 1 is given the same reference numeral, and thus a detaileddescription thereof is omitted.

Unique information transmitter 221 transmits, to server 30, uniqueinformation received by unique information receiver 212 from lightingapparatus L1. When unique information transmitter 221 transmits theabove unique information to server 30, unique information transmitter221 transmits, to server 30, an alighting point received by userinterface 211, in addition to the above unique information.

Note that the unique information received by unique information receiver212 of terminal 20A from lighting apparatus L1 is given signatureinformation for determining whether the unique information is authentic.Here, “authentic” means that the unique information is indeed uniqueinformation generated by unique information generator 122, or in otherwords, the unique information is unique information not generated oraltered by a third party different from unique information generator122.

Special offer receiver 222 receives special offer information fromserver 30. Special offer information to be received by special offerreceiver 222 is transmitted according to the result of determination asto whether unique information transmitted by unique informationtransmitter 221 is authentic which is made by server 30 based on theunique information and an alighting point.

Presenter 215A presents to user U1 or uses the special offer informationreceived by special offer receiver 222. Presenter 215A presents, to userU1, alighting information notifying the user to alight from bus 10, aswith presenter 215 according to Embodiment 1.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating a functional configuration ofserver 30 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, server 30 includes memory 311, uniqueinformation receiver 312, determiner 313, and special offer transmitter314.

Memory 311 is a storage device which stores one or more pieces ofspecial offer information associated with one or more of thepredetermined boarding-and-alighting points at which bus 10 stops.Examples of such special offer information associated with one or morepredetermined boarding-and-alighting points include, for instance,advertisement information of a store whose nearest bus stop is one ofthe boarding-and-alighting points, and authentication information forallowing a person to pass through a gate, which permits only anauthorized person to enter a certain area, to go into the area.

Unique information receiver 312 receives unique information which isunique to bus 10 traveling along a route and specific to the location ofbus 10, and an alighting point at which user U1 is to alight from bus10. Unique information receiver 312 receives such unique information andsuch an alighting point from unique information transmitter 221 ofterminal 20A.

Determiner 313 determines whether the unique information received byunique information receiver 312 is authentic. Various conventionaltechniques can be used to determine whether unique information isauthentic. Determiner 313 may determine whether unique information isauthentic, based on, for example, signature information given to theunique information.

If determiner 313 determines that unique information is authentic,special offer transmitter 314 transmits, among one or more pieces ofspecial offer information stored in memory 311, special offerinformation associated with the alighting point received by uniqueinformation receiver 312.

The following describes in detail operation of terminal 20A and server30 having the above configurations.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating processing by terminal 20Aaccording to the present embodiment.

In step S301, user interface 211 receives, as an alighting point, a busstop at which user U1 is to alight from bus 10.

In step S302, unique information receiver 212 receives light whichincludes unique information in the form of a visible light communicationsignal from lighting apparatus L1, and obtains unique information fromthe received light.

In step S303, unique information transmitter 221 transmits, to server30, the alighting point received in step S301 and unique informationobtained in step S302 (point transmission step).

In step S304, special offer receiver 222 receives special offerinformation from server 30 (special offer receiving step). Special offerinformation received by special offer receiver 222 is transmitted byserver 30 to terminal 20A, based on the alighting point and the uniqueinformation transmitted by unique information transmitter 221 in stepS303.

In step S305, presenter 215A presents or uses the special offerinformation received in step S304 (presentation step). Aspects ofpresenting and using special offer information are later described usingexamples.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart illustrating processing by server 30 accordingto the present embodiment.

In step S401, unique information receiver 312 receives the bus stopwhich is an alighting point at which user U1 is to alight from the busand unique information from terminal 20A. The alighting point and theunique information are transmitted by unique information transmitter 221of terminal 20A in step S303.

In step S402, determiner 313 determines whether the unique informationreceived in step S401 is authentic (authenticity determination step).Specifically, determiner 313 determines whether the unique informationreceived in step S401 is generated and transmitted by lighting apparatusL1.

In step S403, processing is branched according to the determinationresult in step S402. If determiner 313 determines the unique informationto be authentic in step S402 (YES in step S403), the processing proceedsto step S404. On the other hand, if determiner 313 determines the uniqueinformation not to be authentic (NO in step S403), the processingproceeds to step S405.

In step S404, special offer transmitter 314 transmits special offerinformation to terminal 20A.

In step S405, determiner 313 notifies terminal 20A that the uniqueinformation is not authentic. Note that step S405 is not necessarilyincluded and thus is not necessarily performed.

The following describes two specific examples of special offerinformation. A first example of special offer information isadvertisement information (a so-called coupon), and a second example ofspecial offer information is authentication information.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of presentingadvertisement information 1701 which is a first example of special offerinformation according to the present embodiment.

Advertisement information 1701 which is special offer informationillustrated in FIG. 17 is displayed on display 205 of terminal 20A, andshows that user U1 can purchase a product at a lower price than theregular price at shop A which is a store whose nearest bus stop is a busstop at which user U1 is to alight from the bus, for example.

User U1 is motivated to purchase a product at shop A by looking atadvertisement information 1701. In purchasing a product at shop A, userU1 can use advertisement information 1701 to purchase the product at alower price than the regular price by showing advertisement information1701 to a salesperson at shop A.

FIG. 18 is a conceptual diagram illustrating usage of authenticationinformation 1801 which is a second example of special offer informationaccording to the present embodiment.

Authentication information 1801 illustrated in FIG. 18 as special offerinformation is stored in storage 202 of terminal 20A, and is for passingthrough gate 50 for entering area 1811 where only an authorized personis permitted to enter.

Gate 50 is connected to authentication server 60 via network 40 so as tocommunicate with authentication server 60. Gate 50 obtainsauthentication information 1801 from terminal 20A by near field radiocommunication for which NFC port 51 is used, and obtains the result ofauthenticating obtained authentication information 1801 byauthentication server 60, thus opening and closing flapper(s) 52.

Specifically, if user U1 brings NFC port 209 of terminal 20A havingauthentication information 1801 near NFC port 51 of gate 50, gate 50opens flapper(s) 52 and user U1 can enter area 1811. In contrast, ifuser U1 brings terminal 20A not having authentication information 1801near NFC port 51 of gate 50 or does not bring anything near NFC port 51,gate 50 closes flapper(s) 52 and prevents user U1 from entering area1811.

FIG. 19 is a flow chart illustrating processing performed by terminal20A using authentication information 1801 according to the presentembodiment.

In step S501, terminal 20A starts an authentication application. Aprogram for the authentication application may be prestored in storage202 of terminal 20A, or temporarily downloaded from a predeterminedserver device, for instance.

In step S502, bringing terminal 20A near NFC port 51 of gate 50 triggersthe function of the authentication application to allow terminal 20A totransmit authentication information 1801 to gate 50.

FIG. 20 is a flow chart illustrating processing performed by gate 50 andauthentication server 60 using authentication information 1801 accordingto the present embodiment.

In step S601, gate 50 receives authentication information 1801 fromterminal 20A via NFC port 51. Authentication information 1801 receivedhere is transmitted by terminal 20A in step S502.

In step S602, gate 50 transmits authentication information 1801 receivedin step S601 to authentication server 60.

In step S603, authentication server 60 receives authenticationinformation 1801 from gate 50. Authentication information 1801 receivedhere is authentication information 1801 transmitted by gate 50 in stepS602.

In step S604, authentication server 60 performs authenticatingprocessing using authentication information 1801. This authenticatingprocessing determines whether authentication information 1801 isauthentication information of a person authorized to enter area 1811. Ifauthenticating processing determines authentication information 1801 tobe authentication information of a person authorized to enter area 1811,authentication server 60 generates an authentication result indicatingthat authentication has succeeded. On the other hand, if authenticatingprocessing determines authentication information 1801 not to beauthentication information of a person authorized to enter area 1811.Authentication server 60 generates an authentication result indicatingthat authentication has failed.

In step S605, authentication server 60 transmits, to gate 50, anauthentication result obtained by authenticating processing in stepS604.

In step S606, gate 50 receives the authentication result transmitted byauthentication server 60 in step S605.

In step S607, the processing performed by gate 50 proceeds to step S608if the authentication result indicates that authentication has succeeded(YES in step S607). On the other hand, if the authentication resultindicates that authentication has failed (NO in step S607), theprocessing proceeds to step S609.

In step S608, gate 50 opens flapper(s) 52. Accordingly, user U1 can passthrough gate 50, and enter area 1811.

In step S609, gate 50 closes flapper(s) 52. Accordingly, gate 50 canprevent user U1 from passing through gate 50 and entering area 1811.

Through a series of the above processes, gate 50 allows only user U1carrying terminal 20A that has authentication information 1801 as uniqueinformation to enter area 1811.

Note that using unique information and an alighting point received byunique information receiver 312, server 30 may analyze actions of usersof bus 10, that is, users U1 of bus 10, and provide the analysis resultto the outside. Specifically, if unique information receiver 312receives alighting points from terminals 20A of users U1, server 30 mayestimate, by analyzing the received alighting points, alighting pointsand times at which the users are to alight from bus 10, and the numbersof users who are to alight from bus 10 at the alighting points. A personprovided with the analysis result of the actions can use such ananalysis result to provide the users with some service at the alightingtimes and the alighting points.

As described above, an information presenting method according to thepresent embodiment is an information presenting method for presentinginformation to user U1 on bus 10 which stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, the information presenting methodincluding: (a) emitting, by lighting apparatus L1 provided in bus 10,light to passenger space 11 of bus 10, the light including, in form of avisible light communication signal, unique information which is uniqueto bus 10 and specific to a location of bus 10; (b) receiving inpassenger space 11, by terminal 20A carried by user U1, the lightemitted in (a) to obtain the unique information included in the receivedlight; (c) obtaining, among the predetermined boarding-and-alightingpoints, one or more stop points at which bus 10 is currently stopped oris to subsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived fromthe obtained unique information; (d) receiving an alighting point atwhich user U1 is to alight from bus 10; (e) determining whether thealighting point is included in the one or more stop points; and (f)presenting, to user U1 via terminal 20A, alighting information notifyinguser U1 to alight from bus 10, when the alighting point is determined tobe included in the one or more stop points in (e).

The information presenting method may further include: (g) transmittingthe unique information obtained in (b) and the alighting point receivedin (d) to server 30 storing one or more pieces of special offerinformation associated in advance with one or more of the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points; and (h) receiving, from server 30,special offer information associated with the alighting pointtransmitted in (g) among the one or more pieces of special offerinformation stored in server 30, wherein in (f), the special offerinformation received in (h) is presented to user U1 in addition to thealighting information.

The information presenting method may further include: (i) determiningwhether the unique information transmitted in (g) is authentic, whereinin (h), receiving the special offer information associated with thealighting point transmitted in (g) among the one or more pieces ofspecial offer information stored in the server is received from theserver, when the unique information is determined to be authentic in(i).

According to this, information presenting system 2 presents to user U1special offer information associated with a point at which user U1 is toalight from bus 10. User U1 receives presentation of alightinginformation and also presentation of special offer information, whichenhances convenience for the user.

In (d), alighting points at which users including user U1 are to alightfrom bus 10 may be received, in (b), the unique information included inthe light emitted in (a) may be obtained by each of terminals 20Acarried by the users including user U1, and in (g), the uniqueinformation obtained by each of terminals 20A in (b) and the alightingpoints received in (d) may be transmitted to server 30, and theinformation presenting method may further include: (j) by analyzing thetransmitted alighting points, estimating, for each of the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, an alighting time for a user to alightfrom bus 10 and the number of users who are to alight from bus 10 at thepredetermined boarding-and-alighting point: and (k) outputting thealighting times and the numbers of users who are to alight from bus 10estimated in (j).

According to this, a person who receives, from information presentingsystem 2, output of alighting times and the numbers of persons who areto alight from bus 10 at the predetermined boarding-and-alighting spotscan obtain information indicating where and about how many users are toalight from bus 1 in the future, which gives the person an advantagethat he/she can take appropriate action according to this information.

Server 30 includes: memory 311 storing one or more pieces of specialoffer information associated with one or more of predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points at which bus 10 stops; unique informationreceiver 312 which receives unique information which is unique to bus 10and specific to a location of bus 10, and an alighting point at whichuser U1 is to alight from bus 10; determiner 313 which determineswhether the unique information received by unique information receiver312 is authentic; and special offer transmitter 314 which transmits,among the one or more pieces of special offer information, special offerinformation associated with the alighting point received by uniqueinformation receiver 312, when determiner 313 determines the uniqueinformation to be authentic.

Embodiment 3

The present embodiment describes a technique of appropriatelytransmitting unique information to a passenger by a plurality oflighting apparatuses, with an information presenting system and aninformation presenting method which appropriately present alightinginformation to the passenger. Note that the present embodiment is notlimited to the above embodiments, and can be achieved as a system whichappropriately presents, to a terminal, predetermined information with aplurality of lighting apparatuses. Note that the same numeral is givento the same element as an element in the above embodiments, and adetailed description thereof may be omitted.

First, a situation which may be caused by the information presentingsystems according to the above embodiments is described.

Passenger space 11 of bus 10 typically has a size sufficient for tens ofusers to board (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, in order to illuminate theentirety of passenger space 11 sufficiently bright, just one lightingapparatus L1 may be insufficient, and a plurality of lightingapparatuses may be needed.

In view of this, if a plurality of lighting apparatuses are simplyprovided in passenger space 11 in the above embodiments, the lightingapparatuses each transmit light which includes a visible lightcommunication signal. Terminal 20 receives light emitted by each of thelighting apparatuses. The amplitude of light which terminal 20 receivesat this time is a total of the amplitudes of light transmitted by thelighting apparatuses. Typically, the phases of light emitted by thealighting apparatuses do not completely match so that phase shiftoccurs, and thus it is difficult to separate and obtain, from thereceived light, visible light communication signals transmitted by thelighting apparatuses.

As described above, if a plurality of lighting apparatuses each emitlight which includes a visible light communication signal, a situationmay occur in which terminal 20 cannot obtain the visible lightcommunication signals transmitted by the lighting apparatuses. Theinformation presenting system according to the present embodiment allowsterminal 20 to appropriately obtain visible light communication signals,by adjusting timings at which the lighting apparatuses are to emit lightwhich includes a visible light communication signal.

The following describes the information presenting system according tothe present embodiment.

FIG. 21 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 3 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 21, information presenting system 3, lightingapparatuses L2, L3, L4, and L5 (hereinafter may be referred to aslighting apparatuses L2 to L5) provided in passenger space 11 of bus 10,synchronizer 70, and terminal 20.

As with lighting apparatus L1 according to Embodiment 1, each oflighting apparatuses L2 to L5 is a lighting apparatus for visible lightcommunication, and emits light which includes a visible lightcommunication signal in passenger space 11. The light emitted by each oflighting apparatuses L2 to L5 is the same as the light emitted bylighting apparatus L1 according to Embodiment 1, yet the timings atwhich the lighting apparatuses emit light are controlled based on beacon75 transmitted by synchronizer 70.

Synchronizer 70 is a device for synchronizing lighting apparatuses L2 toL5 by transmitting beacon 75 based on which timings at which lightingapparatuses L2 to L5 are to emit light are determined. In the spacewhere lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 are disposed, synchronizer 70transmits beacon 75 by radio waves. The following describes the casewhere synchronizer 70 is provided as a separate device from lightingapparatuses L2 to L5, yet one or more of lighting apparatuses L2 to L5may be configured to function as synchronizer 70.

Next, detailed configurations of synchronizer 70 and lighting apparatusL2 are described.

FIG. 22A is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration ofsynchronizer 70 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 22B is a blockdiagram illustrating a hardware configuration of wireless controlmicrocomputer 702 of synchronizer 70 according to the presentembodiment. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram illustrating informationdescribed in beacon 75 according to the present embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 22A, synchronizer 70 includes power circuit 701,wireless control microcomputer 702, wireless IC 703, and antenna filter704.

Power circuit 701 supplies power for driving wireless controlmicrocomputer 702 and wireless IC 703.

Wireless control microcomputer 702 generates an original signal ofbeacon 75, and provides wireless IC 703 with the original signal.Wireless control microcomputer 702 includes beacon transmitter 711 andclock generator 712 (FIG. 22B). Beacon transmitter 711 generates anoriginal signal of beacon 75 for determining timings at which lightingapparatuses L2 to L5 are to transmit light which includes uniqueinformation, and provides wireless IC 703 with the original signal.Wireless control microcomputer 702 obtains a clock signal generated byclock generator 712, and repeatedly generates the above original signalper fixed period based on the obtained clock signal. This fixed periodcan be a period of 30 seconds, for example. Setting the period to 30seconds satisfies the regulation of the radio law about a time forconsecutive output and an integration time of the consecutive output perhour

Clock generator 712 generates a clock signal per fixed period, andprovides beacon transmitter 711 with the clock signal.

Beacon 75 has fields, namely, a preamble, data, and cyclic redundancycheck (CRC), as illustrated in FIG. 23. A preamble is a bit string of apredetermined pattern disposed at the head portion of a signaltransmitted. Data is a portion which includes information that beacon 75carries, and an identifier indicating that this signal is beacon 75. CRCis information for error correction.

Radio IC 703 is a circuit which obtains an original signal of beacon 75from wireless control microcomputer 702, and transmits beacon 75 byradio waves using antenna filter 704.

Antenna filter 704 includes a band pass filter and an antenna circuitwhich transmits, to the surroundings, a signal transmitted by wirelessIC 703 in the form of a radio wave. Beacon 75 is transmitted byspecified low power radio broadcasting, for example. Note that thestandard of wireless communication is not limited to the above.

FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration oflighting apparatus L2 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 25 is ablock diagram illustrating a detailed hardware configuration of lightingapparatus L2 according to the present embodiment. Note that each oflighting apparatuses L3, L4, and L5 also has a similar hardwareconfiguration to that of lighting apparatus L2.

As illustrated in FIG. 24, lighting apparatus L2 includes power supply100, modulation circuit 105, and light source 106.

Power supply 100 is a power circuit which receives a supply of powerfrom an external power supply, and supplies power to modulation circuit105 and light source 106, for instance. In power supply 100, a powerfactor correction (PFC) circuit (power factor improvement circuit) andan LED constant current circuit generate a constant current, and acontroller adjusts the amount of the generated constant current.

Modulation circuit 105 modulates the amplitude of light emitted by lightsource 106, by modulating value I of a current supplied to light source106. Modulation circuit 105 includes control power supply 107, wirelesscommunicator 109, and visible light communication control microcomputer110.

Control power supply 107 is a power circuit (more specifically, a DC/DCconverter) which receives a supply of power from power supply 100, andsupplies power to a circuit, a microcomputer, and others in modulationcircuit 105.

Wireless communicator 109 is a wireless interface which receives (ortransmits and receives) a radio signal. Specifically, wirelesscommunicator 109 receives beacon 75 transmitted by synchronizer 70.

Wireless communicator 109 includes antenna filter 131, wireless IC 132,and wireless control microcomputer 108 (FIG. 25). Antenna filter 131includes a band pass filter and an antenna circuit which transmits, tothe surroundings, a signal transmitted by wireless IC 132, in the formof a radio wave. Wireless IC 132 is a circuit which provides wirelesscontrol microcomputer 108 with beacon 75 received via antenna filter131.

Wireless control microcomputer 108 obtains beacon 75 received bywireless IC 132, and controls visible light communication controlmicrocomputer 110 based on obtained beacon 75.

Wireless control microcomputer 108 includes beacon receiver 133. Beaconreceiver 133 obtains beacon 75 from wireless IC 132, and verifies bycyclic redundancy check (CRC) whether obtained beacon 75 has beenreceived without error. If beacon 75 has been received without error,wireless control microcomputer 108 transmits a synchronous signal tovisible light communication control microcomputer 110.

Visible light communication control microcomputer 110 modulates a valueof a current to be supplied to light source 106. Visible lightcommunication control microcomputer 110 includes signal generator 135,memory 136, clock generator 137, and circuit driver 138.

Signal generator 135 generates an original signal of a signal to betransmitted by visible light communication.

Memory 136 is a storage device which stores a group identifierindicating a group to which lighting apparatus L2 belongs, and a timeslot associated with the group identifier. As long as the groupidentifier identifies one group among other groups, any type of a groupidentifier may be used. Here, group identifiers are “A”, “B”, “C”, and“D”, and a group identified by group identifier “A” is referred to asgroup A. The same applies to other groups. Note that one or morelighting apparatuses may belong to one group.

A time slot indicates a period in which a lighting apparatus belongingto a group associated with the time slot transmits light which includesa visible light communication signal. For example, a time slot in whichgroup A transmits light which includes a visible light communicationsignal may be a period having time width Tf from a reference time, and atime slot in which group B transmits light which includes a visiblelight communication signal may be a period having time width Tffollowing the period having time width Tf.

Similarly, time slots for groups C and D may be periods having timewidth Tf in sequence.

The following describes an example in which lighting apparatus L2belongs to group A indicated by group identifier “A”, and lightingapparatuses L3, L4, and L5 belong to groups B, C, and D indicated bygroup identifiers “B”, “C”, and “D”, respectively.

Clock generator 137 generates a clock pulse for operation of visiblelight communication control microcomputer 110.

Signal generator 135 generates an original signal at an appropriatetiming using the clock pulse generated by clock generator 137 and thegroup identifier stored in memory 136.

Circuit driver 138 is a drive circuit which obtains an original signalgenerated by signal generator 135 and applies a voltage according to theamplitude of the obtained original signal to a field effect transistor(FET) Q, thus controlling value I of the current flowing into lightsource 106.

Note that wireless control microcomputer 108 may further include beacontransmitter 133A and clock generator 134. Beacon transmitter 133A andclock generator 134 have the same functions as beacon transmitter 711and clock generator 712 of wireless control microcomputer 702,respectively. In this case, beacon transmitter 133A generates anoriginal signal of beacon 75A and transmits beacon 75A using wireless IC132 and antenna filter 131, which allows lighting apparatus L2 tofunction as synchronizer 70.

The following describes processing by synchronizer 70 and lightingapparatuses L2 to L5 having the configurations as described above.

FIG. 26 is a flow chart illustrating processing which includestransmission of a radio beacon by synchronizer 70 and transmission ofvisible light communication signals by lighting apparatuses L2 to L5,according to the present embodiment. FIG. 27 is a timing diagramillustrating timings at which lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 transmitinformation, according to the present embodiment. In FIG. 27, “RF” meansa radio signal and “VLC” means a visible light communication signal.

In step S701, synchronizer 70 transmits beacon 75A. Beacon 75Acorresponds to beacon 75 as described above, and so do beacons 75B and75C described below. After transmitting beacon 75A, synchronizer 70waits until a predetermined period elapses for each of beacons 75B and75C, and sequentially transmits beacons 75B and 75C (steps S702 andS703).

In step S711, lighting apparatus L22 has not received any beacon 75 fromsynchronizer 70. In this state, lighting apparatus L2 is continuouslytransmitting light which includes a visible light communication signal.Such an operation mode may be referred to as a continuous transmissionmode. Lighting apparatus L2 waits to receive beacon 75 from synchronizer70.

In step S712, lighting apparatus L2 receives beacon 75A.

In step S713, lighting apparatus L2 switches an operation mode from thecontinuous transmission mode to a synchronous transmission mode, beingtriggered by the reception of beacon 75A in step S712. The synchronoustransmission mode is an operation mode in which being triggered by thereception of beacon 75 from synchronizer 70, lighting apparatus L2 emitslight which includes a visible light communication signal only in apredetermined period after a predetermined time has elapsed since thetime when beacon 75 is received. Lighting apparatus L2 waits to receivenext beacon 75 from synchronizer 70.

In step S714, lighting apparatus L2 receives beacon 75B.

Being triggered by the reception of beacon 75B in step S714, lightingapparatus L2 transmits, in step S715, light which includes a visiblelight communication signal only in a time slot determined based on thetime when beacon 75B is received. Specifically, being triggered by thereception of beacon 75B, wireless communicator 109 of lighting apparatusL2 transmits a synchronous signal to visible light communication controlmicrocomputer 110. Visible light communication control microcomputer 110receives the synchronous signal, and determines a time slot in whichlighting apparatus L2 emits light which includes a visible lightcommunication signal, based on the group identifier and the time slotstored in memory 136. Circuit driver 138 modulates value I of thecurrent flowing into light source 106, only in the determined time slot.As a result, lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 emit light which includes avisible light communication signal one by one in different periods forthe groups to which lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 belong.

In step S716, lighting apparatus L2 receives beacon 75C.

Being triggered by the reception of beacon 75C in step S716, lightingapparatus L2 emits, in step S717, light which includes a visible lightcommunication signal only in a time slot determined based on the timewhen beacon 75C is received. Detailed processing of step S717 is thesame as that of step S714, and thus a detailed description thereof isomitted.

Note that a description has been given with reference to FIG. 27,assuming the case where lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 each transmit onesynchronous signal, being triggered by the transmission of one beacon 75from synchronizer 70. Yet, synchronizer 70 may intermittently transmitbeacon 75. Specifically, synchronizer 70 may transmit beacons 75 atintervals of about 10 times the intervals of transmitting radio beaconsillustrated in FIG. 27. In this case, if lighting apparatuses L2 to L5receive beacon 75, lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 each transmit asynchronous signal, based on received beacon 75, and thereafter eachrepeatedly transmit a synchronous signal even if lighting apparatuses L2to L5 do not receive beacon 75. This achieves a reduction in powerconsumption of synchronizer 70. In this manner, synchronizer 70 may bedriven by, for example, a dry cell, without the supply of power from,for instance, a system power supply for several years.

Note that one or more lighting apparatuses among lighting apparatuses L2to L5 may each further include beacon transmitter 133A (FIG. 25). Beacontransmitter 133A of each of the one or more lighting apparatuses mayinclude transmission controller 133B which starts transmitting beacon 75when beacon 75 is not received for a predetermined time from the outsideof the lighting apparatus. In this manner, even if synchronizer 70 hassome problem, one of the lighting apparatuses operates as synchronizer70, thus allowing each of the lighting apparatuses to adjust a timing atwhich the lighting apparatus is to emit light which includes a visiblelight communication signal.

Note that lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 may each include a radio beacontransmitter (not illustrated) which transmits, by a radio wave, aterminal beacon which is to be received by terminal 20, based on atiming at which beacon receiver 133 has received beacon 75. A terminalbeacon is a signal which includes unique information of each of lightingapparatuses L2 to L5. An example of the communication standard adoptedto transmit a terminal beacon is Bluetooth (registered trademark) LowEnergy (BLE), yet the communication standard is not limited to this.

As described above, information presenting system 3 according to thepresent embodiment is information presenting system 3 which presentsinformation to user 1 on bus 10 which stops at predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, information presenting system 3including: a lighting apparatus such as lighting apparatus L2 providedin bus 10; and terminal 20 carried by user 1, wherein the lightingapparatus includes unique information transmitter 123 which emits lightto passenger space 11 of bus 10, the light including, in form of avisible light communication signal, unique information which is uniqueto bus 10 and specific to a location of bus 10, and terminal 20includes: unique information receiver 212 which receives, in passengerspace 11, the light emitted by unique information transmitter 123, andobtains the unique information included in the received light; stoppoint obtainer 213 which obtains, among the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, one or more stop points at which bus 10is currently stopped or is to subsequently stop, the one or more stoppoints being derived from the obtained unique information; userinterface 211 which receives input of an alighting point at which user 1is to alight from bus 10; determiner 214 which determines whether bus 10is near the alighting point, by comparing the one or more stop pointsand the alighting point; and presenter 215 which presents, to user 1,alighting information indicating that bus 10 is near the alightingpoint, when determiner 214 determines bus 10 to be near the alightingpoint.

Information presenting system 3 further includes beacon transmitter 711which transmits, to the lighting apparatus which is, for instance,lighting apparatus L2, beacon 75 for determining a timing at which thelighting apparatus is to emit the light which includes the uniqueinformation, wherein

the lighting apparatus includes: light source 106; power supply 100which supplies a current for causing light source 106 to emit light;beacon receiver 133 which receives beacon 75 from beacon transmitter711; and modulation circuit 105 which causes light source 106 to emitlight which includes a visible light communication signal, by modulatinga value of the current to be supplied to light source 106, based on atime when beacon receiver 133 receives beacon 75.

According to this, information presenting system 3 can control, based onbeacon 75 transmitted by synchronizer 70, a timing at which a lightingapparatus transmits light which includes a visible light communicationsignal.

Lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatus L2 which are dividedinto groups may be provided, each of the lighting apparatuses being thelighting apparatus, and beacon transmitter 711 may transmit beacon 75 tothe lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatus L2 and belongingto the groups.

According to this, if information presenting system 3 includes aplurality of lighting apparatuses, information presenting system 3 cancause the lighting apparatuses to transmit light which includes avisible light communication signal, one by one. Accordingly, informationpresenting system 3 can appropriately present alighting information to apassenger.

At least one of the lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatus L2may include: beacon transmitter 133A; and transmission controller 133Bwhich causes beacon transmitter 133A to start transmitting beacon 75when a predetermined period has elapsed without beacon receiver 133receiving beacon 75 from outside the lighting apparatus.

According to this, if a device which is to transmit beacon 75 ininformation presenting system 3 stops transmitting beacon 75, one oflighting apparatuses L2 to L5 starts transmitting beacon 75, thuscausing lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 to appropriately emit light whichincludes a visible light communication signal, one by one.

Information presenting system 3 may further include synchronizer 70which is a separate device from the lighting apparatuses includinglighting apparatus L2, and includes beacon transmitter 711.

According to this, synchronizer 70 which is a separate device fromlighting apparatuses L2 to L5 in information presenting system 3 cancause lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 to emit light which includes avisible light communication signal, one by one.

The lighting apparatus which is, for instance, lighting apparatus L2 mayfurther include a radio beacon transmitter which transmits, by a radiowave, a terminal beacon to be received by terminal 20, based on the timewhen beacon receiver 133 receives beacon 75.

According to this, lighting apparatuses L2 to L5 in informationpresenting system 3 can transmit predetermined information to terminal20 by radio waves. Accordingly, even when terminal 20 cannot receivelight (for example, when terminal 20 is under the clothing of user U1),terminal 20 is allowed to receive information.

Variation 1 of Embodiment 3

This variation describes a first technique of further reliablysynchronizing a plurality of lighting apparatuses, with the informationpresenting system and the information presenting method according toEmbodiment 3. Note that the same numeral may be given to the sameelement as that of the above embodiments, and a detailed descriptionthereof may be omitted.

FIG. 28 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 4 according to this variation.

As illustrated in FIG. 28, information presenting system 4, lightingapparatuses L2A, L3A, L4, and L5 provided in passenger space 11 of bus10, synchronizer 70, and terminal 20.

Synchronizer 70 is connected to lighting apparatuses L2A and L3A bysignal line 80, and transmits, via signal line 80, beacon 76 to each oflighting apparatuses L2A and L3A. Beacon 76 is different from beacon 75in that beacon 76 is not transmitted by a radio wave, but via signalline 80, yet information included in beacon 76 is the same as theinformation included in beacon 75. Synchronizer 70 transmits beacon 75to lighting apparatuses L4 and L5, as with Embodiment 3.

Typically, with regard to beacon 75 transmitted by a radio wave, aportion of or the entire signal may be missing due to a noise of theradio wave, for instance, and thus lighting apparatuses includinglighting apparatus L2 may not successfully receive the signal. On theother hand, with regard to beacon 76 transmitted via signal line 80, aportion of or the entire signal is less likely to be missing than beacon75 which is transmitted by a radio wave. Accordingly, in informationpresenting system 4, synchronizer 70 allows the lighting apparatuses tomore reliably receive beacon 76, by transmitting beacon 76 via signalline 80 instead of a radio wave.

Variation 2 of Embodiment 3

This variation describes a second technique of further reliablysynchronizing a plurality of lighting apparatuses, with the informationpresenting system and the information presenting method according toEmbodiment 3. Note that the same numeral may be given to the sameelement as that of the above embodiments, and a detailed descriptionthereof may be omitted.

FIG. 29 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 5 according to this variation.

As illustrated in FIG. 29, information presenting system 5 includeslighting apparatuses L2, L3B, L4B, and L5B provided in passenger space11 of bus 10, synchronizer 70, and terminal 20.

Synchronizer 70 is the same as synchronizer 70 according to the aboveembodiments.

Lighting apparatuses L3B, L4B, and L5B are connected by signal line 81so as to communicate with one another. Lighting apparatus L3B among thelighting apparatuses connected by signal line 81 transmits, to signalline 81, beacon 76 which is beacon 75 received by a radio wave fromsynchronizer 70. Even if lighting apparatuses L4B and L5B cannot receivebeacon 75 by a radio wave from synchronizer 70, lighting apparatuses L4Band L5B achieve similar effects to those of the above embodiments, byreceiving beacon 76 via signal line 81.

Accordingly, lighting apparatuses L4B and L5B can receive beacon 76 morereliably in information presenting system 5.

Note that lighting apparatus L3B may transmit, to other lightingapparatuses (lighting apparatuses L4B and L5B) via signal line 81, asignal indicating a value of a current modulated by modulation circuit105 of lighting apparatus L3B. Modulation circuits 105 of the otherlighting apparatuses may modulate a value of a current in phase with thetransmitted signal. This achieves a match of the phase of visible lightcommunication signals between the lighting apparatuses connected bysignal line 81.

Variation 3 of Embodiment 3

This variation describes an information presenting system and aninformation presenting method which allow a plurality of lightingapparatuses to appropriately present predetermined information to aterminal. Note that the same numeral may be given to the same element asthat of the above embodiments, and a detailed description thereof may beomitted.

FIG. 30 is a conceptual diagram illustrating information presentingsystem 6 according to this variation. FIG. 30 illustrates an informationpresenting system which allows a plurality of lighting apparatuses topresent predetermined information to terminal 20 in a space of awarehouse or an office, for instance.

As illustrated in FIG. 30, information presenting system 6 includeslighting apparatuses LA, LB1, LB2, LB3, LB4, LC1, LC2, LD1, and LD2,synchronizer 70, and terminal 20. In the space where informationpresenting system 6 is installed, sorting shelves are disposed, andillumination light may be blocked by the sorting shelves. Lightingapparatus LA and the other lighting apparatuses are disposed so as toemit illumination light over substantially the entire space, taking intoconsideration a block of the illumination light by the sorting shelves,for instance.

Lighting apparatus LA belongs to group A. Lighting apparatuses LB1, LB2,LB3, and LB4 belong to group B. Lighting apparatuses LC1 and LC2 belongto group C. Lighting apparatuses LD1 and LD2 belong to group D. Byreceiving beacon 75 from synchronizer 70, each of the lightingapparatuses determines a time slot in which the lighting apparatus is totransmit light which includes a visible light communication signal, andtransmits such light which includes the visible light communicationsignal in the determined time slot. In this manner, terminal 20 canreceive a visible light communication signal appropriately from aplurality of lighting apparatuses.

In information presenting system 6 according to this variation,synchronizer 70 may be further connected to lighting apparatus L2 andother lighting apparatuses by signal line 80, and beacon transmitter 711may transmit, via signal line 80, beacon 76 to lighting apparatus L2 andthe other lighting apparatuses connected by signal line 80, as describedabove.

Accordingly, synchronizer 70 allows lighting apparatus L2 and the otherlighting apparatuses to receive beacon 76 more reliably by transmittingbeacon 76 via signal line 80.

The lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatus L2 may include afirst lighting apparatus and a second lighting apparatus which areconnected by signal line 81, and when beacon receiver 133 included inthe first lighting apparatus receives beacon 75, the first lightingapparatus may transmit beacon 76 to the second lighting apparatus viasignal line 81.

According to this, lighting apparatus L2, for instance, receives beacon75 from synchronizer 70, and transmits received beacon 75 to anotherlighting apparatus as beacon 76 via signal line 81. Thus, lightingapparatus L2 and other lighting apparatuses can receive beacon 76 morereliably.

The lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatus L2 may include afirst lighting apparatus and a second lighting apparatus which areconnected by signal line 81, the first lighting apparatus may transmitsa signal indicating the value modulated by modulation circuit 105 to thesecond lighting apparatus via signal line 81, and modulation circuit 105included in the second lighting apparatus may modulate the value inphase with the first lighting apparatus, based on the signal receivedfrom the first lighting apparatus via signal line 81.

According to this, the phases of visible light communication signals arecause to match between lighting apparatuses connected by signal line 81,and visible light communication signals in phase with one another, whichare transmitted by the lighting apparatuses including lighting apparatusL2, can be received by terminal 20.

Others

The above has described the information presenting system and theinformation presenting method according to the present disclosure basedon the embodiments, yet the present disclosure is not limited to theabove embodiments.

The scope of the present disclosure may also include embodiments as aresult of adding, to the embodiments, various modifications that may beconceived by those skilled in the art, and embodiments obtained bycombining elements and functions according to the embodiments in anymanner as long as the combination does not depart from the spirit of thepresent disclosure.

While the foregoing has described one or more embodiments and/or otherexamples, it is understood that various modifications may be madetherein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implementedin various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerousapplications, only some of which have been described herein. It isintended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications andvariations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information presenting method for presentinginformation to a passenger on a passenger carrier which stops atpredetermined boarding-and-alighting points, the information presentingmethod comprising: (a) emitting, by a lighting apparatus provided in thepassenger carrier, light to a passenger space of the passenger carrier,the light including, in form of a visible light communication signal,unique information which is unique to the passenger carrier and specificto a location of the passenger carrier; (b) receiving in the passengerspace, by a terminal carried by the passenger, the light emitted in (a)and obtaining the unique information included in the received light; (c)obtaining, among the predetermined boarding-and-alighting points, one ormore stop points at which the passenger carrier is currently stopped oris to subsequently stop, the one or more boarding-and-alighting pointsbeing derived from the obtained unique information; (d) receiving analighting point at which the passenger is to alight from the passengercarrier; (e) determining whether the alighting point is included in theone or more stop points; and (f) presenting, to the passenger via theterminal, alighting information notifying the passenger to alight fromthe passenger carrier, when the alighting point is determined to beincluded in the one or more stop points in (e).
 2. The informationpresenting method according to claim 1, wherein in (c), among the one ormore stop points, a next stop point at which the passenger carrier iscurrently stopped or is to stop next is obtained, and in (e), whetherthe next stop point and the alighting point match is determined.
 3. Theinformation presenting method according to claim 1, wherein in (a), thelight is emitted only when the passenger carrier is on a route of thepassenger carrier at a point other than the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points.
 4. The information presenting methodaccording to claim 2, further comprising: (g) transmitting the uniqueinformation obtained in (b) and the alighting point received in (d) to aserver storing one or more pieces of predetermined informationassociated in advance with one or more of the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points; and (h) receiving, from the server,predetermined information associated with the alighting pointtransmitted in (g) among the one or more pieces of predeterminedinformation stored in the server, wherein in (f), the predeterminedinformation received in (h) is presented to the passenger in addition tothe alighting information.
 5. The information presenting methodaccording to claim 4, further comprising: (i) determining whether theunique information transmitted in (g) is authentic, wherein in (h),receiving the predetermined information associated with the alightingpoint transmitted in (g) among the one or more pieces of predeterminedinformation stored in the server is received from the server, when theunique information is determined to be authentic in (i).
 6. Theinformation presenting method according to claim 4, wherein in (d),alighting points at which passengers including the passenger are toalight from the passenger carrier are received, in (b), the uniqueinformation included in the light emitted in (a) is obtained by each ofterminals carried by the passengers, and in (g), the unique informationobtained by each of the terminals in (b) and the alighting pointsreceived in (d) are transmitted to the server, the informationpresenting method further comprising: (j) by analyzing the transmittedalighting points, estimating, for each of the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting points, an alighting time for a passenger toalight from the passenger carrier and the number of passengers who areto alight from the passenger carrier at the predeterminedboarding-and-alighting point; and (k) outputting the alighting times andthe numbers of passengers who are to alight from the passenger carrierestimated in (j).
 7. An information presenting system which presentsinformation to a passenger on a passenger carrier which stops atpredetermined boarding-and-alighting points, the information presentingsystem comprising: a lighting apparatus provided in the passengercarrier; and a terminal carried by the passenger, wherein the lightingapparatus includes a light emitter which emits light to a passengerspace of the passenger carrier, the light including, in form of avisible light communication signal, unique information which is uniqueto the passenger carrier and specific to a location of the passengercarrier, and the terminal includes: a receiver which receives, in thepassenger space, the light emitted by the light emitter, and obtains theunique information included in the received light; an obtainer whichobtains, among the predetermined boarding-and-alighting points, one ormore stop points at which the passenger carrier is currently stopped oris to subsequently stop, the one or more stop points being derived fromthe obtained unique information; a user interface which receives inputof an alighting point at which the passenger is to alight from thepassenger carrier; a determiner which determines whether the passengercarrier is near the alighting point, by comparing the one or more stoppoints and the alighting point; and a presenter which presents, to thepassenger, alighting information indicating that the passenger carrieris near the alighting point, when the determiner determines thepassenger carrier to be near the alighting point.
 8. The informationpresenting system according to claim 7, further comprising a beacontransmitter which transmits, to the lighting apparatus, a beacon fordetermining a timing at which the lighting apparatus is to emit thelight which includes the unique information, wherein the lightingapparatus includes: a light source; a power supply which supplies acurrent for causing the light source to emit light; a beacon receiverwhich receives the beacon from the beacon transmitter; and a modulationcircuit which causes the light source to emit light which includes avisible light communication signal, by modulating a value of the currentto be supplied to the light source, based on a time when the beaconreceiver receives the beacon.
 9. The information presenting systemaccording to claim 8, wherein lighting apparatuses which are dividedinto groups are provided, each of the lighting apparatuses being thelighting apparatus, and the beacon transmitter transmits the beacon tothe lighting apparatuses belonging to the groups.
 10. The informationpresenting system according to claim 9, wherein the lighting apparatusfurther includes a radio beacon transmitter which transmits, by a radiowave, a terminal beacon to be received by the terminal, based on thetime when the beacon receiver receives the beacon.
 11. The informationpresenting system according to claim 9, wherein at least one of thelighting apparatuses includes: the beacon transmitter; and atransmission controller which causes the beacon transmitter to starttransmitting the beacon when a predetermined period has elapsed withoutthe beacon receiver receiving the beacon from outside the lightingapparatus.
 12. The information presenting system according to claim 9,further comprising a synchronizer which is a separate device from thelighting apparatuses, and includes the beacon transmitter.
 13. Theinformation presenting system according to claim 9, wherein the lightingapparatuses include a first lighting apparatus and a second lightingapparatus which are connected by a signal line, and when the beaconreceiver included in the first lighting apparatus receives the beacon,the first lighting apparatus transmits the beacon to the second lightingapparatus via the signal line.
 14. The information presenting systemaccording to claim 9, wherein the lighting apparatuses include a firstlighting apparatus and a second lighting apparatus which are connectedby a signal line, the first lighting apparatus transmits a signalindicating the value modulated by the modulation circuit to the secondlighting apparatus via the signal line, and the modulation circuitincluded in the second lighting apparatus modulates the value in phasewith the first lighting apparatus, based on the signal received from thefirst lighting apparatus via the signal line.
 15. The informationpresenting system according to claim 12, wherein the synchronizer isconnected to the lighting apparatuses by a signal line, and the beacontransmitter included in the synchronizer transmits, via the signal line,the beacon to the lighting apparatuses connected by the signal line.